Fionoa Swan

Fionia Swan [black hull] passes Nordic Helsinki,both tankers were uploading from Finnart on Loch Long.

Nordic Helsinki

While at anchor at the entrance of Loch Long Nordic Helsinki is passed by a Royal Navy Mine Hunter.

USS John L. Hall (FFG-32)

For photographs click HERE

USS John L. Hall (FFG-32)

USS John L. Hall (FFG-32), twenty-fourth ship of the Oliver Hazard Perry class of guided-missile frigates, was named for Admiral John L. Hall, Jr. (1891–1978).

Ordered from Bath Iron Works, Bath, ME on 23 January 1978 as part of the FY78 program, John L. Hall was laid down on 5 January 1981, launched on 24 July 1981, and commissioned on 26 June 1982.

HMS ILLUSTRIOUS

For Photographs click HERE

HMS ILLUSTRIOUS

HMS Illustrious passing Gourock, she was taking part in the Joint Warrior 09 exercise.

HMS Illustrious is the second of three Invincible Class Aircraft carriers, and the fifth ship to bear her proud name. Illustrious, or ‘Lusty’ as she is known fondly by all on board, was built at Swan Hunters Ship Builders Yard on the Tyne, and subsequently commissioned in her base port of Portsmouth in 1982.

In terms of her ‘vital statistics’, Illustrious is an impressive 209m long, with a beam of 36m and a displacement of 22,000 tonnes. She has 1400 compartments and 15 lifts, and she is powered by 4 Gas Turbine Olympus engines (a marinised version of Concorde's), giving her a top speed in excess of 30 knots. With a Tailored Air Group embarked she has a full complement of over 1000 people, and can operate with a range of both rotary and fixed wing aircraft from the Harrier GR9 to troop-carrying Chinooks. Her roles can vary widely, and include everything from Maritime Strike to Evacuation Operations; all of which she has ably demonstrated herself to be very much capable of fulfilling.

The Ship’s motto, “Vox Non Incerta”, comes from a quote in the bible, specifically Corinthians I, Ch.14 v.8, which reads: "For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?" The motto then, means “No Uncertain Sound”, and suits Illustrious extremely well.

Thanks to the Royal Navy for the above information.

Arklow Rose

Having uploaded a cargo of scrap from Diesel Wharf she heads past HMS Diamond and Dauntless.

HDMS Absalon (L16)

The Danish command and support ship about to enter KGV dock ,before setting out to take part in a NATO Joint Warrior exercise.

The Absalon class are command and support ships of the Royal Danish Navy.

Two ships in the class, built by Odense Steel Shipyard, were launched in 2004.

Also called "flexible support ships" or "combat support ships" the class is based on a frigate-type design, but built with an internal multipurpose deck (flex deck) and a stern vehicle ramp. The ships can serve as command platforms for a staff of 75 persons (naval or joint staff) with a containerized command and control centre, transport and base of operations for a company-sized landing force of some 200 men with vehicles. Or the flex deck can be used for mine-laying operations with a capacity of some 300 mines, or the flex deck can be fitted out for mine-clearing operations and launch and recover mine detecting and clearing equipment via a retractable gantry crane, adjacent to the stern ramp, which also is used for launching and recovering the fast landing crafts. Furthermore the flex deck can support a containerized hospital or simply transport a number of ISO standard containers or some 55 vehicles including, up to 7 MBTs. The ships carry two LCPs (SRC90E), two rigid hull inflatable boats and two medium helicopters.

The ships are named after the 12th century Danish archbishop Absalon, and his brother Esbern Snare.

HMCS Halifax (FFH 330)

HMCS Halifax being escorted to King George V dock in Glasgow prior to taking part in a joint NATO exercise.

HMCS Halifax (FFH 330) is a Halifax-class frigate that has served in the Canadian Forces since 1992.

Halifax is the lead ship in her class which is the name for the Canadian Patrol Frigate Project. She is the second vessel to carry the designation HMCS Halifax. She carries the pennant number 330.

She is assigned to Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT) and is homeported at CFB Halifax in her namesake city, Halifax, a name that was also born by HMCS Halifax (K237), a Flower Class Corvette in World War II as well as the very first warship built in Halifax, HMS Halifax (1768).